On the one hand the Bari lawyers who speak of “violated rights”, on the other the Prosecutor Roberto Rossi who invites them, if necessary, to contact the TAR. The object of the clash between defenders and investigators are the limitations imposed on the former in accessing the offices of the Bari Prosecutor’s Office, in via Dioguardi. In fact, following the Prosecutor’s service order dated May 6th, lawyers were granted the “facilitation” of free access to the prosecutors’ secretariats from 8.30 to 9.30 in the morningwhile an interview with the magistrates can only be obtained previously appointment to be made via email.
Criminal lawyers: «Systematic access ban»
A strong limitation compared to the past, when lawyers had the possibility of freely accessing the secretariats throughout the morning. It is a limitation that led to the president of the Criminal Chamber of Bari, Marisa Savino, to speak of “violated rights” and the president of the Order Salvatore D’Aluiso to define the “systematic ban on access” as a circumstance “of unprecedented gravity”. «The Constitution places an obligation – we read in the resolution of the Criminal Chamber of 20 May -, a social duty, on lawyers, which translates into the right of every citizen to the most effective defense». To safeguard this right “it is necessary that lawyers can access the chancelleries and secretariats to check the files, to extract copies, for simple information or for an interview whenever they need it”. Precisely for this reason, yesterday the first day of abstention of lawyers from the hearings was held, a circumstance that will also be repeated on Tuesday 25th.
Prosecutor Rossi: «I’m sorry for my position»
“I regret the position taken by the criminal lawyers with whom there has always been dialogue with mutual respect,” says prosecutor Roberto Rossi in a note. «The organizational provision provides for the possibility of access by lawyers for the entire morning (as the law dictates) in centralized offices, where all defensive activities can be carried out. Unfortunately, the scarcity of resources prevents me from further openings. Where lawyers believe that their rights have been violated – he concludes – the main path is to contact the TAR to have the provision annulled”.
